The Apostle Peter warned the churches: Don’t fall away from the faith. I remember reading about a large hotel along the ocean near where we lived that, over time, had washed away. Erosion is dangerous because it is gradual but can have catastrophic results if unchecked. While a hotel or a house can be replaced, falling away from the faith is much more dangerous because it has eternal consequences.
I don’t believe anyone wakes up one day and says, “I want to fall away from the faith.” Neglecting the Lord results in erosion of your faith, resulting in drifting away from the Lord over time. If you are drifting away from the Lord, He is calling you now with an urgent voice to come to Him. When we return to the Lord, He does not meet us with anger but with His loving arms outstretched.
Joel 2:13 Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead.” Return to the Lord your God, for he is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry, and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish. [1]
Peter’s Warning and Instructions
As Peter wrote to the churches in the latter part of his life, he wanted believers to remember the promises of Jesus and how important it was to stay in the faith. 2 Peter 1:10 So, dear brothers and sisters, work hard to prove that you really are among those God has called and chosen. Do these things, and you will never fall away. 11 Then God will give you a grand entrance into the eternal Kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. [2]
Staying in the faith is about tending to our spiritual heart and building a solid foundation in the Lord. Our faith life is like a garden, which we must weed regularly so the plants can be productive. Peter spoke about working hard in the Kingdom, which acts as preventive medicine to keep us from falling away. When I read God’s Word and pray in worship, my relationship with the Lord is strengthened. Relationships take time, and our relationship with the Lord also takes time, but it is worth it.
Heaven Awaits the Faithful
For those who stay in the faith, heaven awaits us with all its splendor and majesty beyond what we can imagine. 1 Corinthians 2:9 No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him. [3] When contemplating what is ahead as a believer and how much the Lord loves us, it propels us to spend time with Him.
Don’t fall away. To learn more, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/jesus-promises
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation. Tyndale House Publishers.